Steam heating system



Feb. 6', 1934. I Q JENNINGS 1,945,641

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed July 18, 1930 Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies The object of this invention is to arrange a vacuum steam heating system so that the amount of heat supplied to the radiators may be adjusted to a low figure as compared with ordinary methods.

This end is accomplished by admitting atmospheric air into the supply, when the pressure therein falls below the pressure of the atmosphere and proportioning this supply of air to the requirements of the plant.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a vacuum steam heating system with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View illustrating the air supplying attachment; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View illustrating a pressure regulator that may be employed in the supply line.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates a steam boiler, B a steam supply extending therefrom, C one of theradiators, D the return line from the radiators, and E the pumping mechanism by which the air or gas is removed from the system and the water of condensation forced back to the boiler or hot well.

A pressure regulator F may be arranged in the supply line. These parts represent an ordinary vacuum steam heating system.

The pressure regulator F is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The same comprises a casing 10 having a double valve 11 on a stem 12 projecting out through a stufiing box. A casing 13 is secured by brackets or feet to the bottom of the casing 10 and a diaphragm 14 is arranged therein. The supply pipe B beyond the regulator F is connected to the casing 13 under the diaphragm 14 by the pipe 15.

A beam 16 is pivoted to one of said brackets and passes through a yoke 12 forming part of the valve stem 12. Rods 17 having plates 18 are attached to the ends of the beam 16 and weights 19 can be placed on the plates. These weights 19 can be set on the plates 18 as desired to get the adjustment wanted.

When all the weights are on the left hand rod 17 and plate 18, the greatest vacuum, say ten inches of mercury, for which the system is designed is obtained in the pipe B beyond regulator F.

When all the weights 19 are placed on the right hand rod 17 and plate 18 the greatest pressure say, five pounds per square inch, is obtained in the pipe B beyond the regulator F.

By setting the Weights back and forth many adjustments between the two extremes can be obtained, and the engineer can set the regulator so that steam or vapor will be supplied to meet varying weather conditions.

v To extend the range of adjustment so that the amount of .heat supplied can be adjusted to a very low figure, the following attachment is provided:

A pipe 20 is connected to supply pipe B beyond the regulator F and a measuring orifice 21 is arranged therein, and an inwardly opening check valve 22 is connected to the end of the pipe. This orifice 21 is calibrated to have such a diameter that the pumping apparatus can create a vacuum of say ten inches in the pipe B.

The operation is as follows: As long as the regulator F is set to maintain a pressure above the atmospheric in supply pipe B beyond the same, the system works in the ordinary way. But

when the weather gets warmer and the engineer sets the reducing or pressure regulating valve F so that a vacuum or pressure below that of the atmosphere is built up in the supply line B beyond the regulating valve, atmospheric air will be drawn in through the measuring orifice 21, the amount increasing with the amount of vacuum. This air will mix with the steam or vapor coming from the boiler or steam supply and will circulate through the system and the radiators,

and will be ejected out of the system by the pumping mechanism.

This air will mix with the steam to reduce the temperature thereof and by this method of operation the circulating air and steam will create a much lower temperature in the radiators than can be obtained by the use of steam alone.

The device shown afiords a means for automatically proportioning the air to the requirements of the system, as the flow through the orifice will be proportional to the vacuum in the lOl] pressure in the supply line falls below atmospheric M pressure.

While I have shown a hand adjusted regulating or pressure reducing valve, it is to be understood that any kind of regulating valve, whether hand adjusted or automatically operating, can be employed to make up the combination for carrying out the purposes described.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A vacuum steam heating system, comprising a source of steam supply, a supply line, radiators, a return line, a pumping apparatus for withdrawing and ejecting air and gas from the system, and means for admitting atmospheric air to the supply line in amounts directly proportional to the vacuum in the supply line at all times when the pressure in the supply line falls below atmospheric pressure.

2. A vacuum steam heating system, comprising a source of steam supply, a supply line, radiators, a return line, a pumping apparatus for withdrawing and ejecting air and gas from the system, a pressure regulating or reducing valve in the supply line, and means for admitting atmospheric air to the supply line in amounts directly proportional to the vacuum in the supply line at all times when the pressure in the supply line falls below atmospheric pressure.

3. A vacuum steam heating system comprising a boiler, a supply line, a pressure reducing valve in the supply line, radiators, a return line, a pumping apparatus for exhausting air and gas from the system and for handling the water of condensation, and a pipe for admitting atmospheric air into the supply line beyond the valve at all times when the pressure in the supply line falls below atmospheric pressure, said pipe being restricted to allow only a calibrated flow therethrough.

4. A vacuum steam heating system comprising a boiler, a supply line, a pressure reducing valve in the supply line, radiators, a return line, a pumping apparatus for exhausting air and gas from the system and for handling the water of condensation, a pipe for admitting atmospheric air into the supply line beyond the valve at all times when the pressure in the supply line falls below atmospheric pressure, said pipe being restricted to allow only a calibrated flow therethrough, and an inwardly opening check valve in this pipe for preventing an outward flow therethrough.

IRVING C. JENNINGS. 

